
Glass. 



Book 



iVlediumship. 



FROM the earliest ages of the earth of which we have 
any record, either historical or traditional, there has 
existed a certain peculiarly constituted class of sensitives 
(so-called) who have possessed powers more delicate, 
more subtle and with a more penetrating nature, in 
whose presence very peculiar manifestations took place. 
Each age has given names to these people and powers 
have been ascribed to them to almost, if not quite, make 
over and upset the ordained laws of nature. 

That many of the manifestations that we are told of 
in the records of the past took place in actuality, there 
can be no doubt ; but that all of the stories are true is as 
equally out of the question. During the time that the 
Mythology of the Ancient Greeks and Romans was the 
prevailing dogma of the age, it is beyond the possibility 
of a doubt that the peculiar powers ascribed to the 
Oracles of the different Temples had some foundation in 
fact. That they were able to give information in regard 
to events that were to transpire in the immediate future, 
also that they were able to tell of events that were tak- 
ing place around them, but without their immediate 
knowledge, through the exercise of the same powers, are 
matters of record, and I would refer the reader to 



INTRODUCTION. 

I have written this pamphlet because I was asked to: but the necessity of 
a work of this kind is manifest. Had I wanted an excuse for giving a new 
work npon this subject to the investigators of Spiritualism, there would have 
been no difficulty in finding it. 

For the past few years the peculiar happenings under the name of " Psy- 
chic Phenomena " have been brought to the notice of the world and many have 
taken up the study with an idea of determining the fundamental facts, while 
others have taken it up as a fashionable fad. I have no sympathy with those 
who attend a ''planchette party " as a fad, but wish to be counted as one who 
is interested in the true study of the subject. 

Certain laws of nature give to the world all classes of phenomena, and 1 do 
not admit the supernatural in the investigation of psychic phenomena. We 
must study them in the light of scientific investigation. Many works upon this 
subject are now extant and possess merit, but many are from the pens of those 
whose entire knowledge of Spiritualism consists of an attendance at and in- 
vestigation of a few professional mediums, where little opportunity is given 
for the real investigation of the subject, while others are so complex that a 
common mind cnnnot cope with it. 

The peculiar powers of mediumship came to me unasked and not wanted 
when 1 was but seventeen years of age: since that time (thirteen years ago) I 
have passed through successive stages from table tipping to inspirational 
speaking and some of the physical phases. 

Learning by accident that I was possessed of strong mesmeric powers, I 
commenced their use under the instruction of Prof. J. W. Cadwell, and soon 
learned that mesmerism and Spiritualism were very closely related. Acting 
upon this idea I commenced the use of the powers in conjunction, and soon saw 
the real benefit to be derived from their joint use, and have developed no less 
than thirty mediums by their use in one year. 

My desire in bringing this little pamphlet before the public is to place the 
results of my experience in public and private mediumship in such a form that 
it can become the property of honest investigators of Spiritualism. I do not 
relate these incidents to call especial attention to my own work, but to show 
that my deductions are from practical experience and are not theories. I have 
tried to use as plain language as possible to explain the diflerent parts and 
phases of mediumship, and in all ways to make it a pamphlet for the people. 

With these few words I launch this work upon the tide of public opinion 
with the hope that it may throw a few rays of light upon a very interesting 
subject. W.H.Bach. 

. St. Paul. Minx.. December 13th, 1893. 



iVlediumship. 



FROM the earliest ages of the earth of which we have 
any record, either historical or traditional, there has 
existed a certain peculiarly constituted class of sensitives 
(so-called) who have possessed powers more delicate, 
more subtle and with a more penetrating nature, in 
whose presence very peculiar manifestations took place. 
Each age has given names to these people and powers 
have been ascribed to them to almost, if not quite, make 
over and upset the ordained laws of nature. 

That many of the manifestations that we are told of 
in the records of the past took place in actuality, there 
can be no doubt ; but that all of the stories are true is as 
equally out of the question. During the time that the 
Mythology of the Ancient Greeks and Romans was the 
prevailing dogma of the age, it is beyond the possibility 
of a doubt that the peculiar powers ascribed to the 
Oracles of the different Temples had some foundation in 
fact. That they were able to give information in regard 
to events that were to transpire in the immediate future, 
also that they were able to tell of events that were tak- 
ing place around them, but without their immediate 
knowledge, through the exercise of the same powers, are 
matters of record, and I would refer the reader to 



MEDIUMSHIP 



Quackenbos' Ancient History for several instances of 
this kind. Josephus also relates instances of the same 
powers manifested through the prophets of old. 

Many will ask: "Did the Oracle give this informa- 
tion?" "Was it given through the instrumentality of 
the image or the Temple?" Yes and no. But that is 
contradictory, you say. Right here let us take our first 
lesson in mediumship, and if we learn it well it will help 
to straighten out many a tangled place and also prevent 
misunderstandings in the beginning that we will regret 
after we understand ourselves and our work. 

All manifestations of natural law are the result of 
Natural Conditions. We do not think there is a single 
reader of this book who will deny this premise. Our 
premise must be correct or our reasoning will be wrong. 
We are all, more or less, hero worshippers and it is hard 
to reach a solid, practical basis, throw all superstition 
to the winds and look at the practical side of things, 
which, to some, seem sacred. 

Spiritualism is Naturalism in the fullest extent of the 
word. Do not get carried away with the ideas of Super- 
naturalism and think that you are doing the work of 
Spiritualism, as they have nothing in common. 

Every act, every event, every phenomenon, of what- 
ever nature it may be, takes place in accordance with 
and is governed by natural law ; this being the case, 
under proper conditions the manifestations would be 
better than under adverse conditions. No person believes 
that the Oracle at Delphi was a stone image and that 
image talked ! The priests of the Temple, however, were 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. ( 

like the priestcraft of every age and felt that mystery 
was the supreme power by means of which they were to 
gain and hold a mastery over the people, ignorant as 
they were of the real laws that governed these transac- 
tions. The real Oracle was undoubtedly what we to-day 
call a medium. 

See how jealously and carefully the inmates of these 
places were guarded; see how careful they were com- 
pelled to be in their habits and actions; how careful 
people of all classes were of the Temples themselves. 

And as they supplied the conditions necessary and 
gave to the higher powers the proper and requisite 
materials to work with, it is not to be wondered at that 
the Delphian Oracle gained such a reputation for relia- 
bility and was so much sought after. 

In those days mystery was the ruling power. Learn- 
ing (such as it was) was guarded, and the masses were 
more disposed to devote their time to the pursuits of war 
and the chase rather than to do anything in the wa}^ of 
developing the mental man, the physical being the first 
consideration. Within the walls of the Temple the order 
was different, and the conditions thrown around all 
those whose powers bordered on what we now call 
mediumistic were such as to assist and not retard the 
advancement of the gifts. 

Going back still farther to the time of Moses and the 
manifestations spoken of in connection with him in the 
Bible (and allow me to say that one of the greatest 
proofs of the truth of spirit return, outside of the 
fact itself, is in the manifestations spoken of in the 



8 MEDIUMSHIP 

Bible and it is impossible for me to conceive of a Bible 
believer who will deny spirit return) the very finest of 
conditions were observed. Turn to the twenty-fifth 
chapter of Exodus and see what the conditions were for 
the manufacture of the Ark of the Covenant ; then follow 
the history of the Ark and see how the power (magnetism) 
which the Ark was filled (magnetized) with was re- 
tained, even when it was taken from the Israelites by the 
Philistines and carried to the Temple of their God, Dagon. 
(I. Sam., 5 chapter). Every detail of the construction 
was attended to, even the color of the draperies being 
selected by and arranged in accordance with the instruc- 
tion of the higher powers. After the Philistines had 
enough of the Ark and begged the Israelites to come and 
get it, there was still enough power left in it to strike 
Uzzah dead for having dared to touch it. Whether this 
story is entirely true or not, it illustrates the point that 
we wish to make, which is : That all through this line 
of manifestations we see the carrying out of special 
plans the necessity of giving to the power (whatever it 
may be) the proper conditions to work with. To-day 
you may not wish to do so; but if the powers are to 
come to you, you must do so. Would you expect a car- 
penter to do a nice job of work with a gimlet and jack- 
knife for tools ? And would you consider it fair to judge 
a carpenter or cabinet maker by his success in performing 
a delicate job with such tools? Would you expect a man 
to build you a magnificent mansion, several stories in 
height, with a few pine blocks set on the top of the ground 
for underpinning instead of a good solid foundation ? 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. y 

Spiritualism is Naturalism 

in the fullest extent of the word. Not one of the dim, 
fallacious dreams of the dark ages of ghosts, hobgoblins 
and spooks or sprites wandering around the world and 
up to all sorts of mischief, but is a result of a series of 
manifestations taking place in accordance with natural 
laws, governed by natural conditions and handled by a 
class of intelligences, unseen and intangible to the physi- 
cal perceptions. Yet, while such is the case, these intelli- 
gences are none the less beings exisj ting under conditions 
that, to them, are as real and as tangible as the environ- 
ments of the physical body and world. 

The object of this work is not to moralize or theorize, 
but is for the purpose of giving to the world, who have 
asked for it, what is possible in the way of actual experi- 
ences in the line of mediumship and its development for 
the purpose of assisting others to attain the same end. 
Many will not agree with me in my deductions, but to 
those I have this to say: All that we know we have 
learned by experience; you may be sceptical in regard to 
matters which have been proven toothers. My position 
has been assailed many times, but after events have 
proven its correctness; so I say to all who desire the 
benefit of my experience, prove by actual experience 
that I am wrong, then do as your experience tells you 
is correct. I have been uniformly successful in my 
work on the plan given herein, and I have reason to 
believe others may be if they will observe the same 
rules. 

This brings us to a consideration of the subject 



10 MEDIUMSHIP 

What Constitutes a Medium. 

Mediumship is not dependent upon any special men- 
tal capacity — that is the real fact of the possession of 
mediumistic powers — but rather upon that peculiar 
magnetic condition of the body which makes it vibrate 
in harmony with the finer forces in nature's laboratory, 
thus making the medium an instrument upon which the 
spirit intelligences play. If the instrument is in tune, 
the manifestation will be good ; if not, its manifestation 
will be to a certain extent unreliable, according to the 
number of discords which are produced in rendering the 
selection. Do you understand the simile? Do you un- 
derstand that, as an instrument in the hands of the 
Spirit control, you occupy the same relation to them that 
a piano bears to the player, and that the piano must be 
tuned to make each cord vibrate in harmony with the 
other, without which the finest operator would be unable 
to produce a presentable piece of music? Please bear 
this in mind through your entire experience in medium- 
ship, and you will find that it will smooth over a great 
many rough places and will help to make your medium- 
ship of benefit and a pleasure to you and to others. 

A medium is the sensitive, the negative pole of the 
battery and must be passive, receptive and in a condi- 
tion to absorb the £ner emanations which are thrown 
j off by the intelligences from the other side. The positive 
must act upon the negative; the Spirit control must be 
the positive pole; the medium, the negative pole, thus 
constituting a natural battery, when the magnetic cur- 
rent will flow readily from the positive to the negative, 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 11 

carrying the impressions with it and making a definite 
manifestation. All of this working (as I have before 
stated) exactly in accordance with the natural conditions 
and laws governing electric and magnetic phenomena. 

Many will say after reading the last paragraph : 
"Then Spirit phenomena are produced by electricity, are 
they?" By no means. What we term electricity and 
magnetism are only a means to an end ; not the end 
itself. Ever since time began electricity and magnetism 
existed ; the expansive power of steam was shown; the 
waters of the river flowed to the sea; but until man 
produced a machine which could take a passive position 
and allow these positive forces to act upon it, there were 
no electric or steam engines producing power (manifesta- 
tions), neither did the water-wheel do its work. So in 
the case of mediumship; vital magnetism existed from 
the beginning of human life, at least, but until a proper 
machine was furnished the operator, no manifestation 
occurred ; the moment a proper machine (condition) is 
made, that moment the manifestation will take place. 

Then, if you wish to develop mediumship, please 
remember that, as all this is produced by the operation 
of natures forces, you must give them natural conditions 
to work with. Place yourself in a passive position ; then 
invite the higher powers to visit and influence you. 

The Object of Mediumship. 

It is only through the manifestations of mediumship 
that an evidence of an existence after the death of the 
physical body can be proven or even that the least iota 
of evidence can be brought forward. 



12 MEDIUMSHir 

From the time that man first existed as a rational 
being he has been trying to prove the question of an after 
existence. Barrels of ink, oceans of it probably, have 
been spread upon a universe of paper, all to prove or dis- 
prove, or to get an answer to Job's question, " If a man 
die, shall he live again?" While it is only by this means 
that a knowledge can be attained, it must not be con- 
cluded that the sole end and aim of mediumship is to 
continue, week in and week out, year in and year out, 
simply to prove the continued existence. Many who 
have been possessed of very fine powers have had them 
prostituted and wasted through an improper use of 
them or through a psychological power under which the 
medium has been held by certain individuals. One of the 
finest clairvoyants that it has ever been my lot to come 
in contact with was held in this way simply to gratify 
the personal pleasure of a few friends. The sphere of use- 
fulness that might have been his was lost simply for a 
small personal gratification regardless of the feelings or 
comfort of the medium. 

The object of mediumship should also be to improve 
morally, spiritually and intellectually, not only the me- 
dium, but all others with whom they come in contact. 
This can not be with ordinary " phenomenon hunting," 
and it is a deplorable fact that so many who have be- 
come interested in Spiritualism have in reality not be- 
come l< Spiritualists," but "phenomenon hunters," leav- 
ing the grander philosophical part for the same old thing 
over and over again. Not that I wish to put down phe- 
nomena, but that I do not wish to see people who have 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 13 

no thought for anything else. It has been my lot to fall 
in with certain persons who have for years followed the 
phenomenal part without regard to anything else. Such 
a person I met at Clinton Camp Meeting in August of 
1891 and 1892.^ A Spiritualist of years standing, yet so 
wedded to phenomena that the inspirational discourses 
of the finest talent were "as sounding brass and a tink- 
ling cymbal," not worthy of being listened to. Such 
uses, or rather abuses, are the cause of much of the com- 
ment, so unfavorable, that is given to Spiritualism in the 
newspapers. Our good brother, Will C. Hodge, speak- 
ing on this topic in Bricklayers' Hall, Chicago, before a 
meeting of the Illinois State Spiritualists' Association, 
said: "When Spiritualists respect themselves, others 
will respect them." And did he not strike the keynote 
of the vsituation? Let me carry it a little farther for the 
benefit of those mediums who feel that they are not prop- 
erly treated, and say; when mediums respect themselves, 
act in a proper manner, and do not allow every "rover" 
in spirit life to take their individuality away from them, 

just that moment the world will begin to respect mediums 
andmediumship, and it will not until they do. I know just 
what this statement will bring forth from a certain class 

i of Spiritualists and mediums — condemnation; but in the 
end it will be proven true. My work in the past two 
years has extended over twelve states of the Union, and 
in many places I have held the first spiritualistic meet- 
ing that has ever been held, and in others, the last meet- 
ing had been held by E. V. Wilson, who passed to spirit 
^vreome twelve years ago, yet in all my public work I 



14 MEDIUMSHIP 

have never had a newspaper " roast." Why? Because 
during my development I, and those by whom I was sur- 
rounded in earth life, insisted upon a proper line of action 
by the Spirit Control. 

To many it seems strange that a mortal should be dis- 
posed to dictate to a spirit, but it has to be done in many 
cases. The superstitious feeling of awe and reverence is 
to a great extent responsible for this condition of things. 
In a developing circle many things can be tolerated that 
are decidedly out of place in a public audience or even be- 
fore a private circle. We should talk and reason with 
our spirit familiars as we would with any person in 
earth life, and if theydo things that are out of place the} 7 
should have their attention called to it. 

I know that I am treading on dangerous ground, and 
that I am liable to be taken up, as I was at one time 
when I objected to an Indian Control taking possession 
of a medium and persist in giving a series of war whoops 
in a public meeting. The Indian Control was not to 
blame for this but the medium was. Recounting this as 
an evidence of the fact that such things were driving 
some of the better element among the people away from 
the Spiritualistic meetings, I was cut short by a woman 
who arose in her wrath and delivered herself of the fol- 
lowing: "I am ashamed of them fellers. I have got law- 
yers, doctors, priests, statesmen and ministers in my 
Spirit Controls (I afterwards learned that she claimed 
Christ and the apostle Paul and John the Baptist also) 
and I have got Indians too, and I don't want nobody 
to say nothing about my Indian Controls." If I hal m £ 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 15 

dered a thing to prove the truth of my assertions that 
ignorance and superstition were driving many of the 
better class of people who, under different conditions 
would be some of the strongest public advocates of the 
Soiritualistic movement, to holding circles in their homes 
and not coming out to the public gatherings of Spirit- 
alists, I could not have improved on it. Mediums can 
correct this condition of things. No one else can. 

Indian Controls. 

The fact that Indian Spirits sometimes control me- 
diums has troubled many who were investigating Spirit- 
ualism. "Why have you got to have some Indian or 
low down fellow for a control?" Such questions are 
asked over and over again. Let me try to answer them 
to a slight extent. 

The Indian as a race is in advance of the white race 
as far as acting in accordance with the laws of nature 
are concerned. Then his nature is of the coarser sort. 
The finer parts of the body composing the Spirit, we must 
look at it in the light that, as like attracts like, the 
nearer a person is to the nature of another, the closer the 
affinity will be between them. The spiritual body of the 
Indian is nearer like the physical body of man, so that 
the Indian is enabled to come closer to the earth condi- 
tion than the Spirit of a Caucasian. The white race is a 
race of artificial beings. We are not natural in anyway, 
consequently we have less control over the finer forces in 
nature. The Indian, on the contrary, lives closer to na- 
ture, has natural conditions as his regular surroundings. 



16 MEDIUMSHIP 

and is possessed of more of nature's magnetism, conse- 
quently is able to use nature's powers better and 
stronger than the white Spirit. 

The Indian, however, has his place, and if he is a very 
desirable one will keep it. Now, have I slandered the 
Indian control? I say not. The band of Spirits who 
have been operating with me for many years for the devel- 
opment of mediumship are with but one exception Indian 
Spirits, and they say exactly as I have stated in this con- 
nection. Let me say to any medium who has a good In- 
dian control, you have something that is of great value 
to you ; he will do his work faithfully and well, and he 
will not take exceptions to being kept out of the direct 
control on the public platform if you will talk to him as 
you would to anyone else. Not that I would object to 
it, but strangers to Spiritualism are frequently driven 
from an investigation by something that, to them, ap- 
pears ridiculous. 

Mediums owe to Spiritualism a strong effort to put 
it upon a basis of practicability and to present to the 
public only that which will be of such a nature as to at- 
tract instead of repel the better element in any commun- 
ity. Not especially those who have a big bank account, 
but those whose intellectual development is best. 
Who are riediums? Am I a Medium? 

What person is there who, having been a Spiritualist 
or a medium for any length of time, has not had this 
question asked of them many a time, and how many have 
asked the question and received an unsatisfactory an- 
swer? 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 1 i 

The first question has already been answered : Those 
persons who have in their composition some of the- more 
subtle of nature's forces — peculiar, sensitive, magneticeon- 
ditions that are capable of being drawn upon hy the Spirit 
control. 

Am I a medium ? is a harder question to answer. 
Probably very few people are utterly devoid of medium - 
istic power, but many possess this power to such a slight 
degree that they could never make any practical use of it. 
At the present time I do not recall but one person whom 
I consider utterly lacking in medium istic power. Many 
possess mediumistic powers in certain ways, but of such 
a nature that it can never be of an} 7 practical use, either 
to themselves or anyone else. Many possess it to such a 
degree that they can get what are termed impressions, but 
that is all. Such persons will be benefitted by seeking 
the unfoldment of even this power, as the information 
gained may be of great benefit to them. 

I would say to all persons who feel disposed to ask 
this question to consider the answer in the light of com- 
mon sense. I know some people w-ho have a stereotyped 
answer for it : " Yes, you are a grand medium. You wil 
develop to be one of the best mediums in the world." 
Such an answer is entirely unreliable in the greatest pro- 
portion of cases. I will go further. I will say tfrat in 
most cases you know more about your* mediumistic 
requirements and possibilities than any stranger you can 
come in contact with. My w r ork has been as successful 
in the development as any one I know either personally 
or by reputation, and I frankly confess that I cannot tell 

2 



18 MEDIUMSHIP 

positively whether you can develop anything or not until 
I have made a personal test of it. I do not believe that 
others can do any better. After coming in contact a 
number of times it is possible to tell something of the gen- 
eral nature of the mediumistic qualifications of the person . 

We are altogether too liable to turn ourselves into 
fetich worshipers. We receive and absorb something 
that we have been told, and make a fetich of it. This 
may make us so positive in our nature that we prevent 
rather than assist the control in its effort to gain an in- 
fluence over the medium. 

Circles 
are usually resorted to as a means of assisting the devel- 
opment of mediumship and getting communications. 
The proper means of forming a circle is to arrange your 
sitters, alternating a positive and a negative in such a 
manner that they can readily join hands. This necessi- 
tates a "circle, " ccnsequently they become a very im- 
portant part of the Spiritualist's system. 

As a rule males are positive and females are negative 
in temperament, so the common method of arranging 
circles is to alternate male and female. When more of 
one sex are present I have found it a very safe plan to se- 
lect those of the male who are light complexion and of 
the nervous sanguine temperament to occupy the places 
where females should be, and if more of the female ele- 
ment are present I would advise the opposite to be ob- 
served. By alternating a male and female and distribut- 
ing the different complexions you will be quite likely to 
make a good circle. 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 19 

In forming a circle to assist the development, try it 
one way for a number of sessions, and if no results are 
shown, change your circle to different positions andif no 
results are attained in three different positions, change 
the members of the circle. Right here let me give a bit of 
advice to some of the super-sensitive among the Spirit- 
ualists. You have no right to complain if you are not 
wanted in a special circle, and it is not a positive evidence 
that you are not wanted personally if you are not 
requested to take part in every circle that is held. You 
may have among the sitters the very best of friends, and 
yet your magnetism may not be compatible. Others 
will feel just the opposite and it is really disgusting to 
one who understands this fact to have people say, as 
they frequently do, "Oh, those people are alittle too high 
toned for me," then add in a sarcastic tone, "my mag- 
netism is not pleasing to them. They don't want me. 
Well, I can live without them." This person has not 
raised him or herself in the slightest degree by such a 
statement and has shown an ignorance of the laws and 
conditions governing Spiritual Phenomena that is to be 
deplored. Not in one case out of a hundred was any 
insult intended. So I say to the people forming a circle 
for investigation : If you are requested, either by the 
controlling intelligence or by the manager of the circle 
to take another place, or even if your room is desired 
for some unknown cause, do not fly off the handle and 
create a disturbance, but get those with whom you are 
in spiritual harmony and tr} r it again. All who have 
succeeded have come up through great trials and failures, 



20 MEDIUMSHIP 

and when success is attained, think of what you have 
gained! A knowledge of immortality, possibly, or you 
have assisted in producing an instrument through whom 
the proofs of immortality may re given. 

Kind reader, have you ever stood at the bier of one 
whose life sands have been run ? Has the angel of death 
ever stood at your threshold and demanded admission 
and then struck with his blight one who was near and 
dear to you? If you have you can appreciate to some 
extent the value of the knowledge that is given through 
mediumship. Has this one gone from you thoroughly 
conversant with the truth of the knowledge gained from 
the intercommunion between the spheres of carnate and 
decarnate life? If so, you can appreciate to the full ex- 
tent the grandeur and sublimity of the knowledge gained 
through this wonderful gift known as mediumship. Then 
do not for some paltry, fancied insult do one single thing" 
to prevent the greatest good that can come. Your 
thoughts are real entities and exert an influence upon the* 
world, and even in your thoughts you may injure others 
and make an inharmonious condition. 

Circles should be strictly harmonious. Remember 
that the members of a circle bear the. same relation to 
each other that the strings of a musical instrument do, 
and strive to vibrate in unison with them. Remember 
that one discord will mar an entire selection and one 
discordant sitter may disarrange an entire circle. 

In regard to number, different people have different 
ideas, but my experience proves that seven to ten produce 
the best conditions for the production of the phenomena. 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 21 

One great mistake is made in having no regular time for 
the sittings and it is a common thing to hear the mem- 
bers say, " Well, we are supposed to meet at eight o'clock, 
but it is usually from a quarter to half past before we 
get started." 

Think of it ! Your friends from the other side of life 
are supposed to be on hand at a specitied time, but you 
are usually from fifteen to thirty minutes late! How 
long would an earthly visitor continue to fill appoint- 
ments if you disappointed him that much each time? 
Then, one of the first things you should learn is prompt- 
ness. Make a time and stick to it. Have your circles 
twice or three times a week and have as near as possible 
the same persons and occupy the same relative positions 
each evening. This will give you what you want in a circle. 

Sitting Alone for Development 

is a favorite method with a great many and, in fact, is 
productive of as good if not better results than circles. 
The greatest difficulty in a circle being to secure a num- 
ber of people who will be regular in attendance. 

In sitting alone for development, conditions similar to 
those for circles should be observed. A quiet feeling will 
be your first sensation, with a tendency to drowsiness; 
gradually the stronger force will come and little by little 
the controlling intelligences will gain an influence over 
you. When two sit together, they are more likely to be 
harmonious and get good results. 

All classes of phenomena are produced at a very slow 
rate and many have given up in despair when they were 



22 MEDIUMSHIP 

on the very brink of success. If a thing is worth any- 
thing at all it is worth working for. No one among the 
best mediums has had the gift given to them without 
effort on their part. To some it has come unasked, but 
the conditions were made either voluntarily or involun- 
tarily. Many know after having developed mediumship 
that their actions for some time were those that would 
give the Spirit forces an opportunity to work to good 
advantage and many are the incidents that take place 
and are inexplicable until some day the events take such 
a turn that they are easy to understand. 

Do not expect that you are going to develop into the 
" grandest medium on the face of the earth " in a day, 
week or even in years. Every person who has made a 
study of Spiritualism or mediumship knows that the 
knowledge gained came through long study and investi- 
gation, and was not "gobbled up at a mouthful." It is 
no uncommon thing to hear some person say: "Oh, I 
have been all through Spiritualism. Iknowallaboutit." 
Indeed? Then you must have seen a great deal of it. 
"Oh, yes," is the usual reply, "I have attended some 
public meetings." These are the kind of people who are 
criticising Spiritualism, and as a usual thing all they know 
about it is that they have attended " three or four public 
meetings." This is true in a great many cases, and it is 
safe to say when a person claims to "know all about it " 
that his knowledge is very limited. 

When we make a study of anything to attempt to 
learn all about it, we usually learn so much and the 
possibilities of the knowledge in advance of us is so great 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 23 

that we find that we know but very little of the subject. 
As well might a person who has walked through a machine 
shop and whose knowledge of the machinist's trade is 
limited to that, hire out as an expert machinist, as to 
profess to know all about Spiritualism from having 
attended a few meetings. Most of' those who have 
learned anything of Spiritualism have spent years of 
time and given close attention to gain the knowledge 
they possess. 

Developing Hediums. 

My work would be incomplete if If did not include a 
short treatise upon this subject, and yet I hardly know 
how to take hold of it. I do know that whatever I say 
upon this subject will be the truth and that it will gain 
me many a harsh criticism; then, after you have tested 
it to your satisfaction, } t ou will learn that what I have 
said is the truth. 

There are a great many sharks traveling under the 
guise of "Developing Mediums. ' Do not be shocked, 
investigator! Do not be shocked, old Spiritualist! It 
is a fact, if it is a deplorable one. The Bible says, i( By 
their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes 
of thorns or figs of thistles?" And by the fruits of 
these so-called developing mediums I know this state- 
ment to be true. I say this not to injure any honest 
medium, but to protect the investigator and novice in 
Spiritualism from these sharks. This pamphlet is writ- 
ten for investigators of Spiritualism and seekers after 
mediumship. 



24 MEDIUMSHIP 

Yet I have seen many an old Spiritualist caught by 
these sharks and bled for all they could get possession 
of. IF he usual plan is to take a nice room in some cen- 
tral locality ; then through mediumistic power or fraud- 
ulent means produce some kind of manifestations, and 
after gaining t he confidence of the people to such an ex- 
tent • as to make it possible, they promise to develop 
them for grand mediumship, such as Independent Slate 
Writing or Materialization, in a few weeks' time. 

The bait takes in many cases and the price is set at as 
much as they think the person will stand. A time is set 
at which these manifestations are to begin and at least 
one-half of the price, which is seldom less than twenty- 
five dollars, is paid in advance, the balance to be paid as 
soon as the manifestations are produced. After getting 
a number of victims and quite a snug sum of money, presto! 
change! and the so-called medium is among the missing. 

Another thing is that as soon as a person who is dis- 
posed to do public work gets a little mediumistic devel- 
opment, they begin to hold developing circles and give 
developing sittings. Would you expect a person who 
had taken half a dozen music lessons to be qualified to 
teach music? No, of course not! But the case is the 
same. One is equally as well qualified as the other. 

My experience is that no person can guarantee to de- 
velop any phase of mediumship in another person. No 
one can tell another just what phases they are qualified 
for, and my Spirit friends tell me that they can not tell 
just what they can do with a person until they have ex- 
perimented. 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 25 

Now by no means understand that 1^ j not think that 
a well developed medium can assist another. / know 
that they can. But as there are mediums for the d lifer- 
ent phases of phenomena, and I consider developing one 
of those peculiar phases, I do not believe that every me- 
dium can make a success of developing. I will cite an in- 
stance of two mediums operating in the same place. 
One of them, w T ho was considered a very fine medium for 
some phases, held developing circles twice a week for a 
year and a half with the result of but one medium devel- 
oped; the other held less than a month and seven me- 
diums were developed. This one instance proves the po- 
sition I have taken. I have known Prof. J. W. Cadwell 
to develop as high as twenty-two mediums in a single 
month. 

Phases of Mediumship. 

Paul says : I. Cor. xii-4. il Now there are diversities 
of gifts but the same spirit." 

Such being the case, let me call your attention in as 
concise a manner as possible to the different phases of 
mediumship as manifested through sensatives. To do so 
we will begin with the simplest form, that of 

Table Tipping. 

This is usually the first phenomenon produced by a me- 
dium, and is the simplest form of manifestation. To de- 
velop this phase, from one or two up to as many as so 
desire, sit at a table (a plain deal top table, without var- 
nish, that can be found in any kitchen, will do nicely) 
with their hands resting lightly upon it, the tips of your 



26 MEDIUMSHIF 

little fingers touching those of your neighbors, but your 
own hands not connected. Sit patiently and quietly or 
engage in pleasant conversation, avoiding all loud or 
boisterous conversation and conduct. No subject should 
be brought up that is not pleasing to all the members of 
the circle, and no talk of a trifling or degrading tendency 
should be countenanced. This applies to all classes of de- 
velopment. Like attracts like in the Spirit ranks as well 
as in earthly matters, and if your conversation is of a 
trifling or degrading nature you will attract spirits of a 
like character. If your talk is of a highly intellectual na- 
ture, you will attract that class of intelligences to you, 
and the result will be just as your circle desires. You will 
govern it yourselves. You should exercise care in the se- 
lection of the members of your circle, as upon its proper 
formation and the action of its members will depend the 
class of manifestations that will be received. If your 
conversation leads upon topics that are unpleasant to 
any member of the circle, you will generate a feeling, in- 
harmonv will result, and that condition w r ill aid in at- 
tracting a class of undesirable controls, whose manifes- 
tations will be unsatisfactory and in many cases unreli- 
able. 

The^experience of those who have been interested in 
the development of mediumship alway proves this t be 
the case. 

Should the table begin to move or raps be produced 
(the two come together in many cases) endeavor to enter 
into communication w T ith them by asking questions that 
can be answered by yes or no. The questions will be re- 



D ITS DEVELOPMENT. 27 

pli of a code— one tip "no," three tips 

"y two ps ''doubtful'' or "do not know." 

Wl doped to a point where these answers 

are on can enter into a more extended 

communication by calling over the alphabet and instruct 
the intelligence to tip or rap when the proper letter is 
called; by putting down the results you can get quite 
long connected communications. This is a very slow 
and unsatisfactory process to those who have come into 
contact with the higher phases, but it is a stepping stone 
to something better. 

Raps 

are a very desirable phase of mediumship. Earlier in the 
history of Spiritualism they were quite common, but of 
late the number of reliable rapping mediums has been de- 
creasing until the} r are really scarce. A good rapping 
medium can produce phenomenon that will attract wide 
attention, but in all of my travels I have never seen to 
exceed three or four good rapping mediums. 

I met on one occasion a lady who was not a public 
medium, whocould produce raps that we heard distinctly 
in a public hall at least one hundred feet away from her. 
We held a public meeting and induced her to go on the 
platform and allow the friends to produce the phenome- 
non in the presence of the audience and under the direct 
supervision of a committee selected for that purpose by 
the audience. It was entirely satisfactory. 

This manifestation is developed in a manner similar 
to that advised for table tipping. 



28 MEDIUMSHIF 

Automatic Writing 

usually follows closely on the heels of the development 
of table tipping, although in some cases it comes first, 
there being exceptions to all rules. 

To those wishing to develop this very satisfactory 
phase of mediumship, and such it certainly is, as you can 
keep everything that is given, I would say : get a rather 
hard lead pencil and tough paper, as the demonstrations 
are usually quite forcible in the beginning of the develop- 
ment. The author used manilla wrapping paper and 
carpenters' pencils in his development, and found them 
much more satisfactory than ordinary pencils and 
paper. 

Having procured your materials sit prepared to write, 
taking the position you w 7 ould naturally assume, hold- 
ing the pencil point on or very near the paper, and wait 
for the " spirit to move." Your first demonstration will 
probably be a slight tremor of the hand and a sensation 
of a very light electric current going up your arm, pos- 
sibly extending over the entire body. This will be con- 
tinued until your hand will shake and begin to move over 
the paper in an irregular w r ay ; gradually this will settle 
into something like orderly movement — occasionally a 
letter or a broken word will be formed, finally followed 
by perfectly formed writing. 

Some automatic writers are entirely ignorant of 
what is being written; others know from one to half a 
dozen words in advance, but do not know the whole sen- 
tence, while others w T rite with the left hand and the let- 
ters are formed backwards and upside down, so that it 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 29 

is necessary to look at it in a mirror to read it. I believe 
that many an automatic writer has thrown their 
"scrawl" away, when it would have been a clear message 
had they tested it in this way. 

Like raps and table tipping, this development is 
usually a stepping stone to something more, but in some 
cases development stops with this phase and the auto- 
matic writer gives very good tests and other demonstra- 
tions of spirit power with it. 

Trance Mediumship 
in one of its degrees of intensity usually follows 
automatic writing, table tipping, raps and the cruder 
attempts at healing. 

"Trance, Trance Speaking and Trance Seeing" is the 
title of a very exhaustive work upon this subject from 
the pen of that distinguished French ph}'sician, Dr. 
Charcot, who speaks of its operation from a strictly 
scientific, medical point of view. If I wanted a justifi- 
cation of the claims of trance mediumship, I would not 
ask for anything further than the information this work 
gives. 

Trance mediumship may be divided into three divis- 
ions: Unconscious, conscious and inspirational, and, as 
it is only a difference in intensity of control, many so- 
called trance mediums may be possessed of any or all of 
these phases. 

Unconscious Trance 
is, as its name implies, where the sensitives areheld in an 
unconscious condition, while their bodies are used as a 
machine for the spirit to operate upon and voice the 



A 



30 MEDIUMSHIP 

sentiments of the controlling intelligence and when in 
this condition are entirely oblivious to all that takes 
place around them. In this condition they will give 
tests or speak for more than an hour upon subjects, and 
have no idea when they emerge from the control that 
they have done anything. This trance condition is, with 
hardly an exception, followed by a peculiar feeling that 
wears off after a few minutes. Also on emerging from 
the control the medium feels dull and as though awak- 
ened from a sound sleep. • If the medium is exhausted 
after being controlled there has been, as a usual thing, 
some discordant element in the circle, or it has been con- 
tinued too long. 

Conscious Trance 
is that condition where the sensitives are usually held 
with the eyes closed, in a semi-conscious condition, 
unable to act of themselves. While held in this condi- 
tion, the controlling intelligence expresses its ideas or 
produces any manifestation it may be able to through 
the organism of the sensitive. 

If it be a lecture, the sensitives realize that they are 
doing something, will know what they are saying at 
the time it is said and then lose all recollection of the 
language used, but there is in nearly all instances a gen- 
eral idea of the discourse left in the medium's mind. It 
has been my experience that anything learned in this 
way is more firmly impressed upon the mind of the 
medium than anything that maybe studied and learned, 
it being more as though you had proven the assertions 
you have made by actual experiment. 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 31 

Inspiration 

is the highest phase of the mental control. Under the 
inspirational control the sensitives are endowed with all 
of their mental faculties, but there is no thought action. 
The eyes are open, they see w T hat is to be seen and hear 
what is to be heard. They ma}' be interested in a foreign 
subject while talking under the inspirational influence. 

Many are possessed of all of these phases and I will 
never forget the sensations experienced when first used 
under the inspirational control. 

The first essential to the development of any of the 
trance phases is to become perfectly passive and receptive 
to the influence of the controlling intelligence. Remember 
that you must be the negative and the control the posi- 
tive pole of a natural battery. You never saw a person 
make an impression on a hard substance with a soft 
one. The operation is always reversed. How many 
times you will see a person, figuratively speaking, square 
off and with fists doubled up say, "Well, here I am and 
if any spirit wants to come and control me let's see them 
do it," and then they think they have saidit. I attended 
a meeting of a branch of the American Secular Union at 
one time, and a man stood out and, raising his arm up 
to a horizontal position, said: "There! I would like to 
see any spirit move that arm for me," and as he stood 
there and it was not moved, they all cheered and thought 
they had disproven Spiritualism. This was not the 
same meeting that hissed one of their members because 
she avowed a belief in Spiritualism, but w r e were informed 
that they did tint want any Spiritualists or Spiritualistic 



32 MEBIUMSHIP 

talk there, so we stayed away from the meetings after- 
wards. This may not have any direct bearing upon the 
subject under discussion, it shows indirectly the position 
taken by many on this subject, and by taking a strong 
positive stand you prevent the accomplishment of what 
might otherwise come to pass and, in fact, prevent the 
consummation of your desires: 

The trance development is best received in a circle of 
harmonious friends. If there are any in the circle who 
are not congenial, good will, in all probability, not be ac- 
complished. As in other cases arrange your sitters in 
order, alternating a positive and a negative. 

With few exceptions the first sensation in the develop- 
went of any of the trance phases is a slight sinking or 
dizziness, while some express it as feeling as if they were 
going to faint. This increases in intensity until the con- 
trol is attained. 

If your phase is unconscious, you will gradually sink 
into insensibility, and the control will use vour bodv as 
it sees fit. 

If your phase is conscious you will, while being held 
in a quiet condition bordering on stupor, feel inclined to 
make sounds, simply gutterals at first, followed by a more 
extended form, until speech is attained. Do not 'assist 
this in any way but do nothing to prevent it or make the 
work, which is hard enough under the best of conditions, 
harder to accomplish. 

Inspiration. 

The inspirational control follows one or both of the 
foregoing conditions ; the intelligences are the best judges 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 33 

of the proper means of development, and if their instruc- 
tions are followed it will be readily attained when it has 
been preceded by one or both of the trance phases. 

In my own case the intelligences announced that they 
proposed to develop the inspirationalforce, and that on a 
certain Sunday the lecture would be given by means of the 
inspirational instead of the trance control they had used 
before. As I rose to speak, finding they could not control 
readily they immediately entranced me and proceeded 
with their discourse. After having spoken ten or fifteen 
minutes, and gotten their subject well under way, they 
gradually withdrew the trance control, restoring my 
brain to a nearly normal condition, opening my T eyes, but 
at the same time a steady stream of words camefrommy 
mouth. I became quite interested in the subject under 
discussion, and I have since enjoyed many a discourse 
given through my own organism in this manner. 

Right here I wish to digress from my subject and give 
you a few thoughts that will, if observed, be of great ben- 
efit to you. 

The trance medium is in the power of the controlling 
intelligence. Consequently it is of the greatest import- 
ance that you should be informed as to the nature and 
character of the control. The question was asked at one 
time why evil spirits were allowed to return, and the an- 
swer was : "As long as you send criminals and liars into 
spirit life you must expect criminals and liars to return. 
If you want only good spirits to return, send only good 
people into spirit life. Nature does not make two laws 
to govern the same condition, one for one class and one 

3 



34 MEDIUMSHIP 

for the other, but she makes one law, and that is inexor- 
able. If she allows a good spirit to return she must al- 
low a bad one the same privilege. The law of justice de- 
mands it." Consequently we quote I. John, iv. 1 : ' 4 Be- 
loved, believe not every spirit but try the spirits." That 
passage is a two-edged sword ; it says to try the spirits. 
There must be two kinds or there would be no occasion 
to try them. In like manner if there were no spirits it 
would be an impossibility to try them. What are you 
going to do with it, opposer of Spiritualism but Bible be- 
liever ? 

So I would impress upon all the necessity of trying your 
spirits to see what class they belong to, and if they are 
not good, true, honest and reliable in every way get rid 
of them. This is a matter of the greatest importance to 
you, as upon this point will depend your usefulness as a 
medium. If you cannot have good ones you had better 
have none at all. It is a matter of the greatest import- 
ance that you should have full confidence in your con- 
trols, for in no other wa} r will you reach such complete 
results as upon a basis of mutual confidence. 

While this applies to every phase of mediumship it is 
especially applicable to trance phases. 

Independent Slate Writing 
is, in my estimation, the most satisfactory phase of me- 
diumship possessed by a human being. While some pre- 
fer the "book" or "silicate" slate, it is conceded by a 
large proportion of the best and most successful slate 
writing mediums that the common wooden frame slate 
without the noiseless binding gives the best results. Such 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 35 

slates were used by the late Dr. Stansbury,who was very 
successful not only as a slate writer but in securing oil 
paintings and crayon drawings on slates and porcelain. 
They are also used by Mr. A. Campbell for the same pur- 
poses. 

Slate writing is produced through some mediums bv 
putting a small piece of pencil between the slates. Others 
do not put anything between the slates, while others use 
only one slate, placing it where it will have the negative 
condition of darkness to assist the movement. 

No person should attempt to develop this phase of me- 
diumship until they have fully made up their minds to sit 
for a long time without results without being dis- 
couraged. Dr. Stansbury sat for three years one hour 
each day for the development of his oil painting phase 
after he had the development of independent slate writ- 
ing. Others have like experiences. 

My method of assisting the development of this phase 
is to take two small slates and scrape pencil dust over 
the face of one of them, break off a small piece of pencil 
one-eighth to one-fourth inch long and place it on the 
slate. (One of the wood-covered slate pencils will give 
you what is wanted by splitting it and then soak in 
warm water so that the pencil can be taken out.) If you 
will make a mark < on the slate and place the pencil in 
it you can see if it has been moved or not. 

This plan offers inducements from the fact that it 
gives the operating intelligence an opportunity to use 
any one of three methods of making their presence 
known. They can use the pencil, make marks without 



36 MEDIUMSHIP 

using the pencil, or if unable to do either may have 
strength* enough to materialize a finger tip and make 
a mark in the pencil dust. The first marks are usually 
curves or circular and triangular, and after a few 
attempts at that irregular letters are formed, gradually 
improving until words and messages are written. 

Where an ordinary table is usejd it will be an assist- 
ance to drape it so as to form a cabinet. Where psyche 
is used for the purpose of assisting the development of 
independent slate writing only one slate is used, the top 
being used in place of the extra slate, the cabinet being 
covered with a piece of black sateen. I do not advise sit- 
ting over three times a week for any phase, or over one 
half to one hour at a time. 

Oil Paintings 
between slates sometimes follow this development. 

Mr. Campbell's method of producing this phenomenon 
is to take two slates (common wooden frames) and fas- 
ten them together with rubber bands crossing them- 
selves at right angles in the center of the slate; then on 
any small dish (a butter chip will do nicely) are placed 
the different colors of oil paints and set on the outside oi 
the slates. These colors can be squeezed out of the tubes 
and left just as they are, but should be covered with lin- 
seed oil or glycerine to keep them soft and suitable for 
use. No brushes or other appliances are used. Then fol- 
low directions for developing slate writing. 

The Psychic or Occult Telegraph 
is another very fine phase of mediumship and when well 
developed is second only to slate writing as a means of 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 37 

convincing yourselves and others of the truth of spirit 
return. In this an ordinary telegraphic key and sounder 
are used, and for convenience a dry battery is desirable. 
Ajax and Crosby batteries give good satisfaction. 

The key must be taken and sensitized; that is, made 
so that the spring is very weak, so that a very slight 
touch will close the circuit. A finger is arranged from the 
first adjusting screw of an ordinary legless key extend- 
ing out to the end of the lever of the key. This key is 
now enclosed in a box large enough to hold it, having 
wooden sides and slate top and bottom, and is firmly 
fastened to the bottom slate ; connection posts are at- 
tached to the end of the box and a connection is made 
with insulated wire between the key and these posts. In 
the sides of the box opposite the handle of the key are 
placed two poles, one of zinc and one of copper; which 
are secured by drilling a hole in each side of the box and 
fitting the poles to them ; have a fine insulated wire con- 
nected with the poles and cross it back of the key, con- 
necting it to the two connecting posts in the end ; then 
arrange the finger so that the end will come very close to 
but not touch the top slate. Cover the ends of the poles 
on the outside of the box with a piece of sheet brass 
large enough for a finger tip to rest on, and your box is 
ready for use. Connect the sounder and battery with 
the connection posts by connecting a wire to the con- 
nection posts and one end of one of them to the sounder, 
one to the battery and a third wire between the battery 
and the sounder, thus closing the circuit. Then adjust 
the key so that it will take but a light breath to close 



38 MEDIUMSHIP 

the circuit, close the box, place the hands on one of the 
poles on each side and await developments. The first 
result will be a slight fluttering of the sounder, followed 
by an occasional click, until the control is strong enough 
to make the Morse Alphabet. This development also 
requires great patience and perseverence. 

Physical rianifestations in Light and Dark 

have been attracting a great deal of attention in the 
past. 

They are produced by forming a circle in the usual 
manner, but connecting the sitters by having each one 
take hold of their neighbor's left wrist with their right 
hand, thus leaving the left hand free. 

In dark seances the mediums sit in the center of the 
circle and throw oft* from their bodies the magnetic con- 
dition that is used for the production of the phenomena. 
In these circles many different phenomena take place. 
Independent voices are heard, frequently several at a 
time, hands are materialized and touch their friends in 
the circle, messages are written on paper or slates, voices 
coming from vacancy talk to you and sometimes the 
illuminated forms or faces of friends appear, while spirit 
lights are almost unlimited as to number. 

Trumpet Seances 

are rapidly gaining prestige. They are a modification 
of the dark seance, and nearly every medium who pro- 
duces dark manifestations can produce the trumpet man- 
ifestations, while many of the light mediums can also 
produce them. 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 39 

A simple form of the trumpet for experimental pur- 
poses can be made of heavy paper or cardboard by 
making a cornucopia of it and fastening the edges, then 
cut the end square across or shape and fasten a mouth- 
piece to the small end. T have made them for people 
out of ordinary wrapping paper, but they do not pos- 
sess the sonorous qualities of tin ones. Different mediums 
use different sizes and I have seen them from twenty 
inches to five feet long. In using them they are placed 
on the table or floor in the center of the circle. 

Many ask, "Why is a trumpet necessary? " The 
trumpet acts in the same way on sound waves as a "sun 
glass" does with rays of light and heat, consequently 
the waves are intensified and the manifestation is more 
clear and distinct. 

Physical Manifestations in the Light 
are produced under conditions very little different from 
manifestations in the dark. The light is let into the 
room in such a way as to produce a mellow light. 
Stretch a curtain across the corner of a room or use an 
ordinary cabinet ; have the curtain about four feet high 
or so as to come up even with the head of the medium 
when sitting down ; take another curtain and cut a place 
large enough to go around the neck of the medium and 
fasten hooks on this curtain and eyes on the other cur- 
tain ; place a chair near the back curtain, seat the medium 
on it, then hook the outer curtain onto the back curtain 
enclosing the medium ; the . curtains should be long 
enough to drop to the floor when the medium is seated 
between them. This gives the negative condition of 



40 MEDIUMSHIP 

darkness in which to operate. The manifestations are 
produced in the cabinet back of the medium and are of 
the physical nature. 

Full Form Materialization 

is the highest phase of physical mediumship, and, as a 
means of proving the continuity of life, the most con- 
vincing. 

A cabinet is used, either made in the corner of the 
room as has been described in the preceding case, or by 
using a small room as such. In some cases a square 
frame is made which is covered with dark colored cloth, 
and an opening in one side is left which is draped. Some 
use single and some double curtains to the door. When 
a corner is used the cabinet must be entirely enclosed, 
which is not so necessary in the case of physical mani- 
festations. 

The medium sits inside of this cabinet and as soon as 
the forms can come out they do so. Some mediums are 
obliged to sit for years for this phase, but when they get 
it all is repaid. A good light can be arranged by taking 
a box with one open side, fit a sliding frame to it which 
is covered with tissue paper, one, two and three thick- 
nesses. The lamp is placed inside the box, and by means 
of a cord the slide can be raised or lowered and the light 
adjusted from any part of the room or from the cabinet. 

I held the hand of a medium seated partly in the cab- 
inet, another gentleman holding a hand also. We 
had our hands joined, and forms materialized and dema- 
terialized in the opening of the curtain, about two feet 
away from the medium. Henry J. Newton, of New York 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 41 

City, has a wire cabinet and forms materialize and 
dematerialize when the medium is locked and sealed 
inside of this wire cabinet. No sleight of hand 
•can be done under such conditions, and the question 
is, if it is not materialized spirit forms, w T hat is 
it? In the case that I mentioned no person was in the 
house except the medium, myself and the gentleman re- 
ferred to, and we locked the doors and arranged the 
cabinet after the medium went under control. This me- 
dium was not a public materializing medium. I have 
never known of full form materialization being produced 
when the medium was not entranced, but have heard of 
it. While I would not say it can not be done, I think it 
is quite exceptional and harder than by means of en- 
trancement. 

When a person has developed to a point where they 
can sit with any hope of success for any of the five pre- 
ceding phases of mediumship, they can get instructions 
from their spirit controls for sitting, and I am far from 
saying that I have given a plan by means of which all 
can gain any phase they desire. First and foremost, no 
such plan could be devised, and secondly, it would be im- 
possible for every person to develop any phase they 
wished to, as certain qualiEcations are necessary to de- 
velop special phases of mediumship. 

Healing. 

Healing by means of the laying on of hands is as old 
as the human race. Who can do more good in the world 
than they who possess the truly marvelous power of 



42 MEDIUMSHIP 

curing the diseases of their fellow beings ? I will not say 
human beings, as I have known of this power being used 
on dumb brutes as well as on the human family. 

The body is a natural battery charged with vital force 
or energy and possessed of polarity. As a general rule the 
right hand will draw from and thelefthand givetoan af- 
flicted spot. By means of this any person is, if properly in- 
formed, able to relieve headaches and small ailments, even 
if they are not developed as a medium. Then when a 
properly informed band of intelligences has possession of 
the body of a sensitive and can, through their control,, 
not only manipulate the natural currents of the body, 
but add to the force, the results achieved are truly mar- 
velous. 

To induce this form of manifestation, I would advise 
the sensitives to make experiments on their afflicted 
friends, always working to draw a way from the afflicted 
part and give new strength. If you really are a sensi- 
tive your hands will, independent of your own will, take 
their proper position and make proper passes of their 
own volition. 

To diagnose disease, without which the magnetic 
healer would be practically useless, place yourself in con- 
nection with your j^atient in any way that suits your 
own case best. Some prefer to sit facing the patient, 
grasping their hands firmly in your own, and sit quietly 
and passively awaiting the impression. In many cases 
the diseased condition is thrown upon the medium and 
for the time being they feel every ache and pain in the 
body of the patient, thus being able to describe its exact 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 43 

condition. Others prefer to stand, behind the patient, 
with the hands resting upon the shoulders of the patient, 
and there await the impression. 

When the impression or thought comes, speak it out 
and await another. In this way you will soon demon- 
strate the truth of your impressions, and each successful 
experiment will give you additional faith in your powers. 
If you make mistakes in your first endeavors, do not be 
discouraged, but persevere and success will reward you 
if you are possessed of this phase of mediumship. 

After having given a magnetic treatment always throw 
the effects off by making passes over the head, arms and 
body with the hands and throwing off from the hands. 
By doing this no ill effects will be experienced. 

Clairvoyance, Clairaudience and Impressiona 
mediumship is attached to a certain extent to all of the 
preceding phases. 

Clairvoyance signifies clear sight ; clairaudience clear 
hearing, while the impressional phase is too common to 
require any special description. Impressions are received 
by everybody, and all that I can say is to test these until 
you are satisfied as to their nature and reliability. There 
is an old saying that u first impressions are the best," 
and I can see this in mediumship. When you are passive 
and receptive you will be able to get the best manifesta- 
tions. Consequently if you are perfectly passive the 
friends around you will be interested in doing what they 
can for you aud will take this time to give you the idea. 
There are no meansof determining this except by testing 
their accuracy by repetition. 



44 MEDIUMSHIP 

Clairvoyance and % clairaudience are, in my estimation, 
impressional. I do not believe anyone sees spirits with 
the physical eye or hears them with the physical ear. I 
am aware that I shall be disputed, but the fact remains 
that an impression either on the retina of the eye or the 
tympanum of the ear is the result of certain physical con- 
ditions. Clairvoyant sight is frequently produced with- 
out the use of the impression of light upon the optic 
nerve, and clairaudient impressions are frequently pro- 
duced without an impression on the tympanum. Evi- 
dence: close the ej-e and your clairvoyant sight is not dis- 
turbed. Stop the ear and the sound is still heard. Conse- 
quently we hold that it is a result of an impression pro- 
duced directly upon the brain. Passiveness is what is re- 
quired to develop either of these phases. Clairvoyance is 
induced many times by sitting in a darkened room, but 
I do not believe in the plan advocated by many of press- 
ing the eyeballs, as that is likely to cause an injury to the 
eye. Clairaudience is induced the same as clairvoyance. 

Probably no term in connection with Spiritualism is 
misused more than clairvoyance. Any person who pos- 
sesses the slightest degree of mediumshipis called a clair- 
voyant, while they might with equal propriety be called 
a materializing medium. A clairvoyant is one who sees, 
and a medium who never had a spiritual vision, or so 
seldom that it cannot be depended upon, is no more a 
clairvoyant than a blacksmith is a baker. 

While there are new phases and special phases are 
springing up all the time, it is not necessary for me to 
mention them specifically, as there would be no end to it. 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 45 

I might take crystal reading, reading from black tablets, 
and a dozen of the same stamp, but they are only parts 
of others that are in use by mediums everywhere. "Di- 
vining cups," "divining rods," and the " urim " and 
"thummin" which were used in Bible times have come 
down to the present day in different forms, but all are a 
part of some such phase as clairvoyance. 

Light. 

I always advise a person to sit in good light in sitting 
for development. While it takes longer to develop in 
this way it is preferable, as the manifestation is usually 
produced under the conditions in which it was developed. 
It is desirable that all manifestations be produced in as 
bright a light as possible. 

"How Long flust I Sit 
before I will get manifestations?" This is a common 
question. I can not tell. Some get manifestations al- 
most immediately, while I know of one case where me- 
diumship was developed after sitting in circles regularly 
for fifteen years. Probably from three weeks to three 
months of regular sitting would be a fair average. 

I do not advise sitting over two or three times a week 
or over one-half to one hour at a time. 
Spirit Photography 
or what our Theosophist friends call "photographing 
the astral body" has been attracting considerable atten- 
tion of late. Someof the leading photographic journals 
have openly stated that such a thing is possible. 

In operating any ordinary photographic apparatus 



m 



ay be used, and there is a well attested account of a 



46 MEDIUMSHIP 

picture being produced by a kodak in bright sunlight 
where, in addition to those supposed to be in front of the 
camera, there appeared the form of a brother of one of 
the group who had been dead about two years. 

Any background may be used, but a dark colored one 
seems to be preferable. Magnetize the plateholder by 
sitting with your hands upon it for a short time if it is a 
new one. If it is one that you have been using for some 
time this is not necessary. Magnetize the plate by hold- 
ing it in your hands by the edges, not touching the film, 
then place it in the plateholder and proceed as any pho- 
tographer would do, excepting that your hands should 
rest upon the camera when the exposure is being made. 

Some Spirit photographers make two exposures 
— a light exposure to get the sitter's picture and a 
dark exposure for the Spirit picture — while others get 
equally satisfactory results with but one exposure in the 
light. 

I have had pictures taken under strict test conditions 
where, in addition to the sitters, there appeared the faces 
of friends that can be recognized beyond the possibility 
of a doubt. Frank N. Foster recently took a picture for 
a "Globe'* investigating committee at Boston with a 
marked plate from the Globe art department without 
an exposure in the light, said committee being entirely 
unable to account for the phenomenon, yet they were 
practical photographers. 

To develop this phase take pictures of your friends in 
accordance with the directions given, making from one 
to three exposures a day. If you use the dark exposure, 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 47 

and it is advisable in the beginning at least, have the 
room "pitch dark " when it is made and proceed as you 
would in the light. 

One Spirit photographer with whom I am intimately 
acquainted claims that No. 26, Seed's plates, give best 
results. Spirit photography was first brought promi- 
nently before the public by Mumler early in the '60s. 

Obsession 

or possession by an ignorant or evil disposed spirit is 
the worst form of spirit manifestation, and the only one 
that does any injury. Yet this can not be said to have 
any bearing upon Spiritualism, as possession by evil 
spirits was known long before Spiritualism in its pres- 
ent form was understood. Mankind arrive in the Spirit 
_JK<DrJLd in exactly the same condition as they leave this 
life. Many of the acts of the people of the world were to 
injure the people w 7 ho have lived, and many go out of 
this life embittered or held down by creedal supersti- 
tions. When they go out with an embittered feeling 
they seek some way of returning and revenging them- 
selves upon those whom they leave behind, or they ma} 7 , 
finding that life is not what they expected in spirit life, 
feel that they have been derelict in their duty and return 
to do their work over again. 

I met a lad} 7 who was obsessed by an old Catholic fa- 
ther, and was in a deplorable condition. She was unable 
to do many things she wished to do, and had she not 
been where they understood the cause she would have 
been sent to an insane asvlum. 



48 MEDIUMSHIP 

As it was her husband knew what the trouble was, 
and by surrounding her with better conditions and get- 
ting a stronger power around her, the obsession was 
broken and she has been free from it ever since. I have 
no doubt that many are now in the insane asylums who 
could be restored to their families if proper conditions 
were made by those who understand the laws of spirit 
control. The attempt has been made to secure a trial of 
it, but the authorities have refused it, and nothing has 
ever been accomplished publicly in that line. 

The best way to cure a disease is to prevent it, and I 
would advise all to rid themselves of any control who 
manifests a desire to run everything to suit themselves 
regardless of the feelings or comfort of others. This can 
be done by taking a positive position every time their in- 
fluence is felt and telling them in a forcible manner to go 
away, at the same time inviting the better element to 
you. The same thing will govern your actions when you 
are the victim of obsession and by so doing you can rid 
yourself of any control which troubles you. It may, in 
all probability will, require a fight to overcome them, 
biit you will win in the end. Fortunately these cases are 
rare, but I have found several and relieved them. 
Devices. Psyche. 

Many devices have been used to assist the development 
of mediumship with varied results. A little over a year ago 
(November, 1892) 1 was instructed to make a device for 
this purpose. The ideas were partly gleaned by experience 
and partly given by our spirit friends. By acting upon their 
instuctions we produced psyche, the developing cabinet. 



AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. 49 

It is made of wood and is 8x13x3 inches in dimen- 
sion. In accordance with the instructions received it 
was made of basswood and put together with wooden 
pegs and glue, not a particle of metal being used in its 
construction. 

The first one sold developed a musical medium in a 
family who did not even claim to be Spiritualists, in the 
two weeks succeeding its purchase. Thus encouraged I 
went to work with a will and in eleven months (from 
January 1st to December, 1893,) many mediums have 
been developed by its aid, including two independent 
slate, writers. 

It is the most complete device of the kind in existence, 
and combines the principles of every device now in use 
with the principle of the cabinet. It is magnetized, and 
in many cases we get letters describing spirits that have 
come with it. Some of these we know; others we do 
not. I feel that if a person wishes to develop medium- 
ship they can be assisted and the time of development 
shortened greatly by the use of this device. 

In concluding this part of the work let me call your 
attention again to the necessity of discrimination in se- 
lecting your sitters and Spirit Controls. ^Remember that 
like attracts. like in the spirit as well as earth life. Then 
strive to have the conditions surrounding you as pleas- 
ant and elevated as possible in order that all may oper- 
ate to attract a highly developed band of intelligences 
around you, and thus make your mediumship of benefit 
to the world and to \ r ourself. This depends entirely upon 
yourself. What kind of spirits do you think would be 



50 MEDIUMSHIP 

attracted in a saloon ? Yet I have known of people sit- 
ting in saloons and producing manifestations there. 
Like attracts like, and a saloon element only can come 
to you there. By good conditions good spirits will be 
attracted. 















M 



esmensm. 



The next great power to come into use between man 
and man is that known under the names of Mesmerism, 
Psychology and Hypnotism. 

Frederic Anton Mesmer was born at Weil, near the 
point where the Rhine leaves the Lake of Constance, 
on May 23, 1733. He studied medicine in Vienna, and 
after taking his degree under Van Swieten and De Haen, 
two of the most eminent masters of the day, commenced 
to practice. Being of an investigating and progressive 
tendency, his ideas were not in strict accordance with 
the k ' old school " and he was frequently denounced. His 
researches first took the form of Astrology and finally 
ended in what is now called Mesmerism. In all proba- 
bility his investigations began in 1760, but his first book 
upon the subject was not produced until 1766. Mesmer, 
however, knew nothing of what is now called Mesmerism. 
His researches were more strictly in the line of the ef- 
fects of animal magnetism, and such experiments as are 
now produced were doubtless far from his mind. 

After the first excitement of Mesmer's discoveries sub- 
sided an investigation was begun by the French, but it 
resulted in nothing but the assertion that there was 
something to it. It was then allowed to die out and it 
was not until the middle of the nineteenth century that 
it was revived and brought forw r ard by Dr. Bovee Dodds 



52 HOW TO MESMERIZE 

under the name of Psychology. Since that time there 
has been more or less of the operation, but comparatively 
little in a public way, until it was taken up by the French 
scientists and revived under the name of Hypnotism. 

The following from vol. 15, page 277, of the ninth 
edition of the Encyclopoedia Britannica, will show that 
the power has been known and used by different nations 
long ago, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that 
many of the so-called miracles of the past were produced 
by this power. " It would appear that in all ages dis- 
ease was alleged to be affected by the touch of the hand 
of certain persons, who were supposed to communicate 
a healing virtue to the sufferer. It is also known that 
among the Chaldeans, Babylonians, Persians, Hindus, 
Egyptians, Greeks and Romans many of the Priests ef- 
fected cures, or threw people into deep sleeps in the shades 
of the temples, during which the sleeper sometimes had 
prophetic dreams, and that they otherwise produced ef- 
fects like those nowreferred to animal magnetism. Such 
influences were held to be supernatural, and no doubt 
they gave power to the priesthood. In the middle of the 
seventeenth century (about 1650) there appeared in Eng- 
land several persons who said they had the power of 
curing diseases by stroking with the hand. Notable 
among these was Valentine Greatrakes who 

attracted great attention by his supposed power of cur- 
ing scrofula. Many of the most distinguished scienti£c 
and theological men of the day, such as Robert Boyle 
and R. Cudworth witnessed and attested the cures 
supposed to heeffected by him, and thousands of sufferers 



TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT. 53 

crowded to him from all parts of the kingdom ." (The 
italics are mine.) Further accounts of these events can 
be found in Colouhoun's History of Magic. 

How to Mesmerize. 

In beginning this part ofmy subject, I wish to have a 
distinct understanding as to terms so that we will be 
understood, or rather understand each other. The mes- 
merist or person doing the mesmerizing is called an 4 ' Op- 
erator ; " the " subject " is a person whom you are oper- 
ating on, and a kk volunteer 1 ' is a person who comes for- 
ward to be operated upon. Now we can start on our 
first lesson. 

One of the first essentials to becoming a good oper- 
ator is to possess a good, clear, level head; this is nec- 
essary for more reasons than one, and as you follow 
these pages through you will see the necessity without 
further comment. Discrimination is another essen- 
tial, and a good "gift of gab" with the proper mag- 
netic influence will combine to make a successful oper- 
ator. 

No person can become a good operator who will not 
study his subject and keep him well under his control 
from the start. As a general rule persons of the nervous, 
sanguine temperament, w T ith full temples, full under the 
eyes, and who will give strict attention to what you say, 
are your best subjects. Many think that to be a good 
mesmeric subject is to be considered half witted or nearly 
so, and that it is certainly a sign of a weak intellect or a 
weak bodilv condition. This is not true. Many of the 



54 HOW TO MESMERIZE 

best mesmeric subjects are the physical and mental su- 
periors of their mesmerizers. I have found this to be the 
case on many occasions. 

The first thing to do to make the attempt to mesmer- 
ize is to sit your volunteer directly in front of you and 
grasp his right hand in yours with the first finger of your 
hand against the exact center of his palm and your 
thumb between the second and third fingers, about one 
inch back of the knuckle, taking a firm hold; place your 
left hand on his elbow with your first finger on what is 
commonly called the "crazy bone," and your thumbfrom 
three to four inches towards the wrist and just linder- 
neath the edge of the bone that you will feel there; this 
brings you into a direct nerve connection with your sub- 
ject and you are ready to make your experiment. 

Instruct your volunteer to look you steadily in the 
eyes, and to make this possible without too great exer- 
tion bring your face on a level with his eyes, just so that he 
has to look up a little to look you in the eyes. After he 
has looked you in the eyes for a moment or two, if he is a 
subject, they will begin to change and a strange appear- 
ance will come over the eye. It will look glassy and set ; 
by moving your head a little you can determine if your 
subject has become partially susceptible to your influ- 
ence, and, if so, you should instruct him to close his eyes ; 
remove your hand from his elbow and make a few passes, 
three or four, over his forehead, place your thumb just 
where the nose and forehead join, and yotir first finger on 
the top of his head, reaching up to what is called the soft 
spot, and then give a gentle pressure on the nose where 



TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT. £>£> 

it joins the forehead and tell your subject to close the 
eyes a little tighter, and then see if he can open them. 

This is the process to be gone through with to make 
a simple experiment, but much has to be learned before 
it can be done with safety and with a prospect of success. 
First and foremost you cannot be told how to throw out 
the magnetic or will force to make a successful experi- 
ment ; that must come by practice. 

The voice has a great deal, in fact, ale, to do with this 
science. You have doubtless noticed that some people 
have a "smooth tongue" and can bring other people to 
their way of thinking and sell goods that others can not, 
and so in mesmerizing, the tone of voice used has a great 
deal to do with your success. You must be to all out- 
ward appearances just as you are trying to make your 
subject believe you are. From the first attempt that you 
make you should continue to talk in a smooth, easy tone, 
all the time impressing your volunteer that something is 
going to be done, and as fast as your subject loses con- 
fidence in his power to prevent it, you have gained an 
equal amount and made a stride towards success. I ad- 
vise an}- person to talk in a moderate tone of voice, not 
boisterous unless it is very far along in the control, and 
then it is a question if an easy tone would not answer 
the purpose better. 

Your talk should all be for the purpose of impressing 
him with the idea that something is going to happen. 
In making a start, I usually say: "Now, look me 
steadily in the eyes for a moment. Make your mind per- 
fectly passive; remember that while you are controlling 



56 HOW TO MESMERIZE 

your nerves and muscles, I cannot control them. I am 
going to fasten your eyes shut so that you cannot open 
them. I will only hold them a second or two and you 
need not be afraid, as I can throw it off as soon as I 
wish to." In this way I gain their attention and im- 
press upon their mind an idea that something is going 
to happen that is out of the ordinary. I use a soft, 
smooth tone that is quieting and soothing, and by 
watching the eyes I see when the subject is ready for 
the attempt. 

The eye has been called the window of the soul; 
whether this is true or not I am not prepared to say, 
but that it is the window to the inner condition I am 
well aware. By watching the eyes you will learn all 
that you wish to. When you tell the subject to close 
the e\^es, you will find that some close them with a snap; 
such are rarely subjects. Others close them in a dreamy 
sort of way and are usually subjects, while others in 
closing the eyes roll the pupils upward so that the whites 
of the eyes are exposed; these are your best subjects ; they 
must be carefully watched so as to prevent too strong a 
force being thrown on them at first, or you may produce 
a cataleptic condition that you cannot readily remove. 
If you find a person going into this condition, throw the 
force off from them as soon as possible. 

A force is thrown onto a person by making a down 
pass and the best results are obtained by making a 
sweeping pass with the right hand close to, but not 
touching-, the subject, while to throw a force off from the 
subject, an upward pass is made, usually accompanied 



TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT. 57 

by some remark, such as, ''All right/' spoken firmly. 
Should this be insufficient and the condition still con- 
tinue, a sharp spat of the hands would be advisable or a 
stamp of the foot. Anything for a shock; at the same 
time give a command that the condition shall cease. It 
is not best in controlling subjects to hold them for any 
length of time on the start. In fact, I would not advise 
holding any subject over ten to fifteen seconds during 
the first few experiments. Afterwards they can % be held 
longer without danger, but it requires experience to judge 
these matters in a proper manner. 

When you have your subject ready to make the at- 
tempt to hold the eyes closed, you should say in a tone 
that is full of meaning that they cannot open their eyes ; 
not as if you were doubtful of it yourself, but as if you 
knew they could not. Then follow it up in this way : 
"Now close your eyes ; a little tighter; hold them easj^a 
moment ; now see if you can open them ; try ; try ; try ; 
all right, now you can." This is, of course, assuming 
that you have made a success of your attempt. You 
will not do this in every case ; in fact, in the majority of 
cases you will not. Should you fail to hold the eyes and 
the subject opens them, tell him to close them again and 
go over the operation ; you may fail the first time and 
make a success the second time, or you may fail a num- 
ber of times and finally make a success. Remember that 
the chances are against you, as only one in five is con- 
sidered even a passable subject. I have mesmerized 
twelve out of fourteen and I have failed to close the eyes 
of a single individual when I had twentv volunteers. 



58 HOW TO MESMERIZE 

Your success will lay in a succession of impressions 
thrown over your subject in regular rotation. They 
must not be given in broken impressions, but follow each 
other in waves, at regular intervals. 

As soon as you have gained a slight control of your 
subject, throw it off; we will suppose that you have 
fastened the eyes and are able to hold them for a few 
seconds; do not allow the subject to break the control, 
but thrpw it off, and each time you do this your power 
grows stronger and you are so much nearer a complete 
control. 

When you can hold the eyes shut you are ready to go 
one step farther, which is to gain a physical control. 

Place your subject before you as already described and 
tell him to join his hands together by interlocking the 
fingers and place his hands over the center of his head. 
The position is important, as placed either at the back 
or front, there is a liability of straining the neck, while 
at the center this is impossible. Order the subject to look 
you steadily in the eyes and then repeat in a positive 
tone, but pleasantly, that you are going to fasten his 
hands together so that he cannot pull them apart. 
While you are talking, and it does not matter much what 
you say, so that it conveys an idea that something is to 
be done, pass your hands lightly over the arms, beginning 
at the elbows and ending with a slight pressure on the 
hands ; then place your hand on top of the subject's and 
say firmly: "Now, you cannot pull your hands apart." 
If the experiment fails, repeat it, and you will be success- 
ful, after a few attempts, in holding them solid. After 
this, hold the subject without coming in contact with him. 



TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT. 59 

This can be alternated by causing your subjects to 
spat their hands and telling them that they cannot stop 
and other amusing incidents, such as fastening their 
hands to yours, etc. 

When you have made a success of the preceding ex- 
periments, it is an easy matter to prevent him speaking 
his name. If this is not accomplished without, bring 
your hand down, stopping directly in front of his mouth, 
and vibrate it there; sometimes you can assist it by 
slowly drawing your hand away from him or by bring- 
ing your face on a level with his and slowly drawing in 
the breath with a slight noise, always carrying out the 
idea both by words and actions that he really cannot 
speak it. "You cannot speak your name; no, I won't 
let you; you could if I would let you, but I will not;'' 
and so on, always carrying out the idea that he cannot 
because you are preventing him. 

When you get your subjects into the condition where 
they cannot speak, you can doubly confound them by 
saying quite suddenly and sharply, "Why, you have 
forgotten your name. Forgotten it." If you see by a 
sort of dazed appearance that they areimpressed, repeat 
it with an upward pass directly in front of the eyes and 
it will usually require but a few moments to really make 
them lose all recollection of their names, their place of 
residence, occupation and finally to stop all thought ac- 
tion, which is done in the same manner that all other 
things are, by giving the proper commands and carry- 
ing out the plans laid down in the preceding instruc- 
tions. 



60 HOW TO MESMERIZE 

When you have placed your subjects in this condition 
and have stopped all thought action, you are ready to 
try to place them under spirit control. After having 
stopped all thought action and made the subject as 
nearly unconscious as possible, invite spirit controls to 
step in and take charge. They may have a great deal of 
hard work to do this on the start, but by continuing the 
process you will accomplish the result in the end. 

When the spirit has come in contact with the subject, 
you should try to stimulate the actions of the control 
and thus encourage the spirit in its efforts. There are 
two kinds of control . A control of the motor nerves 
and a control of the sensor nerves. One reason why so 
many are controlled in an unsatisfactory way is that the 
spirit is unable to get control of both of these sets of 
nerves at the same time, consequently they shake and 
shake and finally give up in disgust. 

By the use of Mesmerism you will be able to hold the 
physical or motor nerves under control, and thus assist the 
spirit so that it has only to hold the sensory system, thus 
relieving it of one half of the work . Every time a person is 
controlled the next control is more easily brought about. 

Mesmeric control and control by the spirit is nearly 
identical ; so much so that every Mesmerist has his sub- 
ject taken away from him on many occasions, and 
although some Mesmerists say that they are not Spirit- 
ualists, all that I have a personal, or, in fact, a nominal 
acquaintance with are Spiritualists. No money can be 
made by pushing Spiritualism, and Mesmerism is a 
money making thing if used for that purpose. 



TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT. 61 

When the Spirit Control has taken charge of your 
subject, try to get him to do some act, no matter what, 
as it will give him an extra confidence if he finds he can 
produce a manifestation. I usually say: %< If a spirit 
can get control, will you please manifest it by moving 
the head forwards, then backwards and sideways, and 
so on, until I find that they can manage the head prop- 
erly. Then I tell them that if they move the head for- 
ward it means yes, sideways, no, and thus enter into 
conversation with them. I find that it is very easy to 
get Mediums to talking if I start them by taking a long 
breath that will fully inflate the lungs and cause them to 
exhale it slowly, then more rapidly, finally requesting 
them to make a noise when exhaling the breath, then 
two noises and then some letter or short word. " " is 
a good one, as it is a natural sound and goes readily in- 
to the word "no." So on, in slow steps, I lead them, 
getting them on their feet and have them go from one to 
the other, shake hands and make some remark, such as 
"how do you do? " and so on, until a perfect control is 
gained. 

One thing that the operator must observe at all times 
is, that a perfectly confident demeanor must be carried 
out to ensure success in the first stages of the control. 
No matter what comes up, remember that a confident 
air and a maintenance of your equilibrium is the most 
essential thing. If you should happen to get any of your 
subjects under control and not be able to release them 
readily, do not allow them to find it out but pass it off 
as a joke and make another experiment. Say "well I 



62 HOW TO MESMERIZE 

have you very fast now, but as soon as I wish to I will 
set you free," or something to that effect, or laugh at 
them, which will in some cases produce the effect you de- 
sire. By no means ever get into such a condition as to 
lose your self control. Maintain that, as on it will de- 
pend your success in getting out of a scrape if you get 
into one. I have never had but two subjects that I could 
notrelieve at once by the methods explained farther back. 
These I laughed at and finally clapped my hands smartly 
in front of the face, after making upward passes and 
"all right," restored them to a normal condition, none the 
worse for wear. Remember that a pass opposite to the 
one made to induce the control, will release your subject. 
A close observance of this will smooth nearly all rough 
places. 

When a subject has passed under spirit control, do 
not try to break the control suddenly, as by that means 
you give a shock to the system that may leave your sub- 
ject in a bad condition, and retard rather than assist the 
development. Do not allow a spirit to hold a medium 
over fifteen or twenty minutes at the first few attempts, 
but afterwards the time may be increased without in- 
jury in any way. 

Should a spirit get control that is not desirable, throw 
your magnetic force against it and make demagnetizing 
passes, at the same time requesting the spirit to with- 
draw, and if it does not do so, give a direct command 
and enforce it as strongly as possible by your will power. 
With a well disposed spirit you will find a desire to com- 
ply with all of your requests, and they will receive your 



TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT. 63 

instructions as willingly as you can desire. I have found 
that it is necessary in some cases to teach the spirit 
many things, and while this idea seems strange to the 
4 'hero worshipping Spiritualist," I have learned by ex- 
perience that it is necessary in some cases to correct them 
and make them follow certain lines. Do not understand 
me that I propose to dictate to the spirit just what it 
shall and shall not do, but I do insist on certain things and 
I consider it no more than right. For instance, the In- 
dian is a good assistant when he behaves himself; but 
if he comes and begins to hoot and yell and as I have 
seen them do, I immediatel} r call a halt. Then I say to 
him that it is not right; it degrades the medium and is 
not dignified, and he ought not to do so. On one occa- 
sion an Indian control came and said he did not like a 
ladies hair, and before anyone realized what he was do- 
ing, he had pulled the hair pins out of her hair and let it 
down her back, and allowed a "switch" to drop to the 
floor. I gave him a regular old fashioned talking to and 
told him that if he ever did such a thing again I would 
drive him away and not let him come again. He came 
again and acted differently, and we called his attention 
to the difference in his actions and showed him that we 
appreciated it. He never did such a thing again. 

Get rid of all superstitious ideas, and treat your 
spirit visitors as you would treat any friend who comes 
to visit you, and your results will be much better. You 
can become a fetich worshipper in this as readily as in any 
other ism. Talk with them, reason with them, and treat 
them simply as rational beings. Among our first ex- 



64 HOW TO MESMERIZE 

periences one of our spirit friends said to us : "Do not 
take everything for granted that I say, but sift it 
through your reason, and if I tell you anything that you 
think is not fact, say so, and I will try to explain it to 
you, so that one or the other of us may be proven 
wrong." My father said : "I do not want to dispute 
you in any assertion you may make." " Why riot?" 
was the reply. " I am a natural being like yourself and 
am liable to be mistaken." "But you seem to be so much 
higher than we are," was the further reply. Then came 
an answer that all Spiritualists should "ponder in 
their heart : " "I am a man like yourself and have passed 
to a higher grade in the school of life. I am liable to be 
wrong and we should hold friendly discussions, and in 
this way you will be benefitted and we also." 

The spirit learns certain things from the mortal, and 
I question if the spirit controls do not gain as much by 
coming into the earth environment, as the mortal does 
by having them come. 

I will give one illustration of the credulity of some 
people : A communication appeared in one of the lead- 
ing Spiritualist papers in 1891 to the effect that the 
recipients of the message had come in contact with some 
ancient spirits and had asked them if such a person as 
Jesus Christ ever existed. About a dozen names were 
attached to this (of supposed spirits) and among them 
were four or five who never had an existence, but were 
simply mythological characters, and among these was 
the name of Mephistopheles. Now, do you know whom 
he was? Well, Mephistopheles was the mythological 



TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT. 65 

name for the devil, and here we have the disgusting 
spectacle of Spiritualists giving the name of the devil as 
evidence concerning the existence of Jesus Christ. How 
ridiculous, and yet if you make a fetich out of Spirit- 
ualism you will do some things as ridiculous as this. 

Asa rule you have some ordinary mortal as a spirit 
control and, as they do not have a full control on the 
start, you are likely in a psychologic way to give the 
spirit a name and then the intelligence does not equal the 
demands of the case. We have in the past week learned 
the name and history of a control who has been with me 
for several years past. He would never tell us before. 
We went, however, on the plan that " by their fruits ye 
shall know them," and as he did good work, we received 
him and when he got ready he told us who he was. 

I feel that I have now given you what will be of bene- 
fit to you if you will read studiously and understand- 
ingly what has been written. Allow r me to add again 
that these are the results of practical experiences in pub- 
lic and private mediumship for many }^ears, and as far as 
my experience goes, it is accurate. You may differ from 
me, but if you do, simply prove that I am wrong and 
then act as your experience tells you is right. All I ask 
is, if you have no practical experience and are depending 
upon theory, that J 'Ml prove me wrong before you 
judge me. 

That this pamphlet may be the means of bringing 
more of the knowledge of the fundamental facts of spirit 
return to the world, is the fervent wish of the author and 
his inspiring intelligences. 



■ 



I J • o 



t cfe 



MEDIUnSHIP 

AND ITS DEVELOPMENT 

AND 

HOWroMESriERIZE 

TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT, 

BY 

W. H. BACH r 

Lecturer and Demonstrator of Psychic Phenomena. 
MESMERIST. 



W. H. BACH, 

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, 
1893. 



DO YOU WANT TO BE A 
MEDIUM? 




HAS DEVELOPED OTHERS, 
WHY CAN IT NOT ASSIST YOU? 



This device has now been thoroughly tested, and has 
given complete satisfaction. Although the first one was 
made but a year ago, they are now in use in all parts of 
the United States and Canada. 

See testimonials inside back cover. 

For circulars, testimonials, and all further informa- 
tion, please address, with stamp, 



W. H. BACH, Manufacturer, 

ST. PAUL, rtlNN. 



.*$ 



SO-.i 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



in 

022 172 012 A 



